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Bourn to miss at least first four games of season

Morgan on Opening Day roster; other moves include Bauer being optioned to Minors

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Bourn's running catch 0:18

3/8/14: Michael Bourn runs one down for a nice catch in center field

By Jordan Bastian
/
MLB.com |

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians will be without center fielder Michael Bourn for at least the first four games of the season.

On Monday morning, Cleveland announced that Bourn will begin the regular season on the 15-day disabled list -- retroactive to March 21 -- due to the strained left hamstring that has kept him out of games for a little more than a week now. As a result, non-roster outfielder Nyjer Morgan was informed that he will have a place on the Opening Day roster with the Tribe.

The decision on Bourn was one of a handful of moves made by Cleveland.

The Indians also announced that right-handed starter Trevor Bauer and righty reliever C.C. Lee were both optioned to Triple-A Columbus. That narrows the race for the final rotation spot to Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin. It also means the competition for the last two spots in the bullpen is down to Scott Atchison, Blake Wood and possibly one of Carrasco or Tomlin.

Cleveland also informed third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall that he will break camp with the Major League club. This spring, Chisenhall has been competing for at-bats at third base with cleanup hitter Carlos Santana, who will double as a third baseman and backup catcher for the Indians this season.

Veteran right-hander Aaron Harang, who was informed on Sunday that he would not make the roster, was granted his release on Monday. The 35-year-old Harang -- added on a Minor League contract by Cleveland at the onset of camp -- signed with the Braves on Monday night.

Also on Monday, the Indians reassigned non-roster first basemen Bryan LaHair and David Cooper to Minor League camp. Catcher Luke Carlin was also told that he will be reassiged to the Minor League side, but Cleveland plans on keeping him in big league camp until the Indians leave Arizona on Thursday.